Organizer:
Sponsors: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan National Council of the Arts
We are greatful to Amna Yasin and Ambassador (Retd) Tariq Zameer for providing photographs for this catalogue.
Art for Climate Change 2018
President of Pakistan His Excellency Dr Arif Alvi Chief Guest
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limate Change, primarily generated by human actions, threatens the survival of every species on Earth. We need to draw attention by all possible means towards impending threats of frequent and severe natural disasters, food and water shortages, agricultural and economic collapse, etc. This unprecedented crisis requires us to think about the interaction between humans and the environment in radically new ways. Artists in some countries have made efforts in heightening awareness of people about this rapid and catastrophic environmental change. In Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with Gallery 6 Islamabad held an artists’ retreat in Swat in 2016, with successful outcomes for highlighting the climate change issue through art. Building on the previous experience, this year in collaboration with PTDC, we invited sixteen artists, photographers, a film maker and a journalist for an “Art for Climate Change” retreat in Naran in August 2018. Participants were given the challenge to capture nature and also to create artworks that would attract media, groups and individuals and sound a warning about the climate crisis destroying the natural environment. This exhibition is the outcome of the retreat and shows that the participants have been very successful in meeting the goal as their artworks will make deep impressions on the mind. I am confident that these creations would mobilize individuals and organizations, both nationally and internationally, to act for saving our planet by mitigating factors that are causing climate change. I am very grateful to Mr. Syed Abu Ahmad Akif (then Chairman, Board of Directors, PTDC) whose efforts also brought Ms. Aisha Khan (CEO, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change) and Mr. Ali Nawaz, (Director, Snow Leopard Foundation) for funding the retreat; to Mr. Jamal Shah, DG, PNCA, for providing premises on gratis for this exhibition; to my colleagues in EWCA-IC; to the Gallery 6 team; and to all the participants of the retreat. Above all, we are highly privileged that His Excellency Dr. Arif Alvi, the honourable President of Pakistan, accepted our invitation to inaugurate this exhibition, which makes it a historic event. According to my knowledge, this is the first ever private sector art exhibition in Pakistan that a President is inaugurating. This not only reflects the new government’s commitment to control climate change but also shows its interest to promote art in society and collaboration between private sector, civil society and government departments for national gains.
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Message from the Curator Dr Arjumand Faisel
Curator, Gallery 6 Islamabad Team Leader of the Retreat
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limate Change is a subject that most people have increasingly heard about or may even have experienced (albeit unknowingly), but one that they do not really know about or one that they do not fully understand. Climate change and its attendant natural phenomena globally acknowledged to be an existential threat to human well-being, its cross cutting multi-dimensional nature necessitates a response that is all encompassing. Therefore, the task before all persons gifted with the means of acting to stem climate change impacts is to firstly communicate the knowledge to ever wider audiences and then act by every means possible. These means include literature and arts. In 2016, Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan, undertook a joint venture with Gallery 6 Islamabad titled “Climate Change and Art – A Practitioners Retreat”. This was part of the “Art for social change” movement that is increasingly filling the gaps left unattended by the conventional means of addressing challenging social issues. The purpose of this retreat was to enable and facilitate development of artworks which would attract media, groups, families and individuals to learn about and explore factors leading to climate change and its resultant negative impacts.
Fazal Abbas Maken
Cabinet Secretary Chairman, PTDC Board of Directors
This year, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation reinstituted the Climate Change and Art programme in collaboration with Gallery 6 and two civil society organizations, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change and Snow Leopard Foundation. Later, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts has also collaborated by offering its premises on a gratis basis. If Corporate Social & Environment Responsibility activities are made mandatory by law, it would go a long way in addressing not just climate and environmental in near future. Many countries have laws requiring companies to invest and spend at least 1-2% of their profits on such activities. As climate change is everyone’s issue, it is my desire and hope that all Pakistanis join in to create a culture that enables the whole society to come together for developing climate resilience.
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rt is a powerful tool of communication and in our own times, artists have been trying to engage in new ways to heighten awareness of rapid and potentially catastrophic environmental change, generated by human actions, compelling us to think about the interaction between humans and the environment in radical new ways. Growing engagement of artists with environmental issues has had powerful echoes in several strong exhibitions in recent years, allowing artists to affiliate their work to climate change – “without distorting their customary practices”, and getting “thoughtful, nuanced responses” from them. These artists are increasingly going further than raising awareness and now also contribute to knowledge cocreation across disciplines, using aesthetic experiences to empower the audience to imagine plural futures. The Art for Climate Change journey to the Kaghan Valley was an attempt to build a constituency of supporters for climate change that goes beyond social sciences and calls for integration of the humanities in global environmental change research. The purpose was to create the need for a humanistic climate response that reflects and resonates with the human experience, including affect and emotions, human values and subjectivity. We were happy to be part of this journey as our mission is to support all such initiatives that are necessary for the development and implementation of the transformations necessary to address the 1.5 Degrees Celsius Challenge. Art is unique because it is not constrained by standard scientific methods and can more easily involve not just artists and scientists, but also citizens and many different types of change agents. As such, the arts can also challenge things that tend to be taken for granted, in an engaging and creative way. This can lead to new ways of perceiving, understanding and acting upon climate change. We hope that the works displayed in this exhibition help in developing “narratives of hope” that contribute positively in fostering the imagination and shaping the kind of society we collectively want to create, live in and leave behind for future generations.
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Aisha Khan
CEO, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change
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e at the Snow Leopard Foundation are glad to be part of “Art for Climate Change�, a tremendous initiative by Syed Abu Ahmad Akif (former Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Chairman, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation) who is joined by Dr. Arjumand Faisel of Gallery 6 and the CEO of CSCCC, Aisha Khan. We are sure that this innovative approach will go a long way in promoting biodiversity and environmental conservation through art. The Snow Leopard Foundation works to conserve viable populations of snow leopards and other wild carnivores as an integral part of landscapes across Pakistan, while improving the economic conditions of the people who share habitats with predators. Conservation education is one of the key components in SLF program activities. Our objective for conservation education is to provide a platform to inform, educate and engage various stakeholders. The SLF education and awareness campaign ensures effective stakeholder involvement and resource mobilization in environmental management. The model of conservation education is designed through development of resource materials, promotion of best practices, dissemination of environmental messages, active participation of youth and public awareness campaigns.
Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz Director Snow Leopard Foundation
Visual messages can create a greater impact on stakeholders and citizens alike and are able to depict the gifts of nature in the form of rich biodiversity and a healthy ecosystems. One the same canvas the viewer can also find the challenges and uncertainties of climate change faced by the nature and the people living in these beautiful mountains and valleys. SLF sincerely appreciates this initiative and wish all the team members success and best of luck.
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On an Arty Trail Afia Salam
I am a journalists who developed professional interest in environment and climate change. This interest took me on many interesting journeys to different parts of the country where I started to look at people and places while wearing the environmental lens.
surroundings. Beautiful Naran valley got their creative juices flowing, while the degradation also evoked feelings that were captured on canvas and on camera and film to enhance awareness about the impacts of Climate Change on our environment, and the people living in it.
I have also ben lucky to have interacted with so many people which included climate scientists, policy makers, on ground implementers from INGOs and NGOs, government officials, community members, teachers, journalists, and artists.
The concept of Art Retreat on climate change issues was introduced in 2016 by the former Secretary of Ministry of Climate Change, Syed Abu Ahmad Akif in collaboration with Gallery 6 Islamabad. It showed how the work of the artists brought the need to realize the impacts of climate change to a completely different set of audience.
Lest the last mentioned be viewed as an anomaly in the context of Climate Change, let me state that this was by far the most interesting groups of people I interacted with. The lens they wear over their heart makes them see Nature and its interaction with humans in a totally different way and brings out nuances that are missed in the academic, science and policy debate. They bring sensitivity, warmth, passion and compassion through their expressions, and I am lucky to have witnessed this when involved with this circle. Forays into their domain, however, been few and far between. So when I was offered a chance to be a part of the ‘Art for Climate Change’ Retreat in hitherto unseen (by me) Naran-Kaghan, I wrested myself free of other mundane commitments and joined the group. And what a pleasurable, educational experience it was to be alongside them, see them ‘feel’ their
As a member of the group that went to the Retreat in Naran, I was privy to some of the images captured by this wonderful group of artists, and even at their initial, unfinished stages I could see how powerful they were. I am sure once their work is finished and displayed at the gallery for a wider audience, not only will it garner professional accolades, it will definitely bring more sensitization to preserve the environment. For this retreat, credits go to Gallery 6 Islamabad, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Snow Leopard Foundation, and East-West Center Association-Islamabad Chapter
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Artists & their Works
Abid Khan Born in Lahore in 1966, Abid Khan holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from the University of Punjab. He is a self-taught artist and has been painting since the last 23 years. He has held 9 solo exhibitions and participated in 15 group shows in Pakistan, Dubai, Oman and Singapore. He was also a participant in the Climate Change art residency in 2016.
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RISE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE I, oil on canvas
It gives me immense pleasure to capture the romance of Mother Nature. I hope that it reflects in my paintings and brings joy and happiness to its audience. I desire that the beautiful landscape of our country is not destroyed by our actions and by ravages of climate change.
RISE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE II, oil on canvas, 24x30 inches
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Ajab Khan Ajab Khan belongs to Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was born in 1964 and has Masters Degree in Urdu Literature. He is a self-taught artist and has been painting regularly since the last 18 years. During this period, he has received several awards in Pakistan including Sadequain Award (2002, 2003 2004), SS Haider Award (2003), Allama Iqbal Award (2003), Gulgee Award (2007) and Ahmad Faraz Award (2011). Ajab has also won the international calligraphy award in Makkah (2012) and Madina (2014).He has held ten solo shows in renowned art galleries of Pakistan and participated in a number of group shows, both nationally and internationally. He has also curated three art exhibitions and has contributed significantly in promoting art in his area.
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UNTITLED 1, oil on canvas, 30x40 inches
My paintings depict a very strong element of love with my motherland. This devotion inspires me in feeling the rural colors around me and converting these into my compositions on canvas. I draw attention towards the serenity and beauty of our landscapes. I am hurt with the catastrophes of climate change and desire that we all collectively and sincerely act to minimize damaging factors and preserve our beautiful natural environment.
UNTITLED 2, oil on canvas, 30x40 inches
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Ali Ijaz Muhammad Ali Ijaz graduated from National College of Arts, Lahore, with a degree in Film and Television Production in 2009. He has a passion for making documentary films on wildlife conservation and environmental issues in Pakistan and has received the WWF- Living Planet award for his documentary “Missing Vultures”. His recent documentary “Pangolins in Peril- A story of rare scales” has been screened at festivals around the world including Russia, Finland, Netherlands, Croatia and USA. His film won the “Wildlife Activism Award” at the 2016 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York, it also received the “Award for Scientific Merit” at Scinema Film Festival in Australia and the “Wildlife Conservation Award” at
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CMS Vatavaran- International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival, 2017, India. His nature films have been screened in hundreds of schools across Pakistan, helping fill a void in natural history programming in the country. He has been making documentaries for various national and international organisations including WWF, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID and Oxfam. He is the founder and director of Documentary Foundation of Pakistan and currently teaches at Institute of Art and Culture, Lahore. Ali Ijaz believes that the documentary film is a powerful tool that can be used to tell great stories to inspire, educate, entertain and thus bring about positive to change to individuals and communities.
HOTELIER STORY-5, video still
1. Naran – Changing landscapes Duration: 3 mins Amidst the chaos of peak tourist season, a local hotelier steps back and reflects on issues of climate change and sustainable tourism to save what remains of the natural beauty of Naran. 2. Art for climate change -Brushing in nature Duration: 4 mins The documentary explores the motivations of the participating artists and the purpose of the artist retreat in the beautiful valley of Naran.
HOTELIER-1, video still
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Ali Sajid Born in Peshawar, Ali Sajid has a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in painting from the University of Peshawar. He has also done advance courses in sketching and painting from Singapore and Tokyo. Ali has worked in a firm as Creative Director in Singapore, as urban sketcher in Tokyo and is currently employed as an Assistant Professor at Sarhad University Peshawar and Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. Besides Pakistan, he has exhibited his work globally including Albania, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, UAE. He has won several International Awards including Daniel Smith Award at Fabraino Italy (2016), in International Watercolor
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Festival Dubai (2017), Landscape Artist Award Albania and Global Association of Watercolor Artist Award Canada (2018), and also national awards including “Living Human Treasure Award” and “National Heroes of Peshawar Award” by the Government of Khyber Pakhtinkhwa, SS Hyder Award and Gulgee Award. Ali has juried IWS Arab Nation Contest, IWS Turkey watercolour contest and Pakistan 1st International Watercolour Contest. His paintings enrich art collection’s all over the world including office of UNESCO,UNCHR, Fabraino museum Italy, at 11 corps headquaters and also in the CM House, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
BATAKUNDI, water color on paper, 14x20 inches
Within the space of a frame, I try to build the world of landscapes that are the celebrations of our country. I do not capture the image as it is but with my brush and colourful strokes, heightening the splendor of the area. I work hard to develop paintings that can speak both to me and to others about the beauty that exists in our environment. We need to act collectively for preserving it from impending devastations of climate change, for our future generations.
BATAKUNDI, water color on paper, 14x20 inches
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Amna Yaseen Amna Yaseen is a 25 year old Visual Artist and Photographer based in Lahore, Pakistan. She accomplished BFA in Visual Arts from Lahore College for Women University and is currently enrolled in MPhil (Art History) at the same institution. Apart from her visual art practice, Amna has consolidated her repute as a Street and Social Documentary photographer. She has participated in 17 photographic exhibitions nationally in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Quetta, and internationally in Tokyo, National Museum Ras-al-Khaimah, UAE and Vienna. Her latest achievement, Asahi Shimbun Medal, in 77th International Photographic Salon of Japan, speaks of her authentic status among most representative Pakistani pho-
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tographers of today. She has written a number of research papers on art and photography, including those presented at 7th International THAAP Conference (2016) and Punjab Press Council Photography Conference (2016). Her three photographs have been published in National Geographic Your Shot, consecutively in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She has carried out several projects, such as holding photographic workshops, working on books with publishers, participating in video documentary projects, coordinating photography contests, sub editor Pakistan Photography Magazine, and working as jury for BFA Visual Arts examinations.
THE ETERNAL QUESTION, photographic print on canvas, 24x36 inches
My work focuses on environmental degradation and its chaotic impact on human life. Rapid deforestation, invasion of wild spaces, excessive consumption of fossil fuel resulting in environmental warming and land erosion are greatest challenges which threaten our survival. My photographs (in camera double exposures) provoke the viewer to focus on invasive role of local tourism in polluting glacial landscapes, rivers, lakes and mountain valleys. CHILDREN OF DESTINY Photographic print on canvas, 24x36 inches
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Asad Asghar Asad Asghar was born in 1992 in Mansehra, a small town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He did BFA in Visual Art from Hazara University in 2017 and is currently teaching sculpture and drawing at his alma matar. He has worked as an Interne with artists Dr Ajaz Anwar and RM Naeem for short periods to increase his skills. He has to his credit two national sketching awards from Iqra University Islamabad (2014 & 2015). Best Sculptor Certificate in a workshop at PNCA (2015) and also Best Mural Painting Award from PNCA (2016). Asad is passionately committed to spreading art in the region and conducts different art activities in the area including workshops and competition in schools and colleges. He has also established a private firm “Sheen Artisans” for art promotion and on the launching ceremony of the firm he painted Pakistan’s largest watercolor portrait of Quaid e Azam (10 x 6 feet) in front of the audience. He has also worked as one of the moderators in two National Space Design workshops at Department of Architecture UET, Abbottabad Campus. In this retreat, besides his creative endeavours, Asad also worked as Assistant Manager and facilitated the artists.
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DEATH OF TREES IS OUR DEATH Print on panaflex, 60x24 inches
Observations of the nature and its relation with mankind drives my art to play a role for the betterment of humanity. The artworks produced in the retreat draw attention towards the increasing use of wood by us in our daily life, which results in extensive cutting of trees and contributing to climate change. If this practice continues in the current manner, then we are going to suffocate our world. Hence my slogan is “Stop killing yourself, Stop cutting trees�.
LOST, acid on paper, 4x4.72 inches
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Arjumand Faisel Dr. Arjumand Faisel is a leading public health specialist who has been painting from childhood. In his young age, he had the opportunity of close interactions with leading painters of Pakistan like Ali Imam, Rashid Arshed, Jamil Naqsh, Bashir Mirza, Ahmed Parvez and Sadequain, which created his passionate involvement in the world of paintings. He curated the first exhibition in January 1972 at Johnny’s Art Gallery, Karachi, when he was only 18 years old. In 1976, he established “ZEENA – The Art Workshop” in Karachi, an outlet for sale of artworks of budding artists. In the 1980’s he focused entirely on his professional development in public health and ac-
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quired three postgraduate degrees from Pakistan and USA. In the early 1990s he made a return to the art world and his interest intensified when he met artist RM Naeem. This friendship served as a catalyst and in 1999, Faisel established a group called “Promote Art in Pakistan” which financially helped struggling art students and young artists in a unique way. In March 2008, he established “Gallery6”, and has so far curated over 90 outstanding shows nationally and in USA, India and Australia. He has also held 6 solo exhibitions and participated in 14 group shows.
TROUT TREASURE – II, acrylic on canvas, 20x30 inches
Trout fish is one of the treasures of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is badly affected by flash floods that are occurring due to climate change. Also, it is being annihilated because of large-scale fishing through undesired practices like electric shocks. My paintings bring attention towards this treasure that is under threat. Although, trout in Pakistan is brown, black and silver, I have replaced the brown with gold to emphasize its value. The poster series ‘‘Plant for Me’’ advocates the action for future generations.
PLANT FOR ME Print on panaflex, 48x24 inches ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
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Fakhra Asif Fakhra Asif was born in 1994 in Lahore. She is a figurative artist, with a preference for oil painting. In her childhood she used to paint on the walls of her room, which ultimately grew her interest in painting. Her initial interest in human anatomy in school took an interesting turn in later years; when she started studying Fine Arts at Queens Marry College (2013) in
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the intermediate level. She graduated in Fine Arts from College of Art and Design, Punjab University in 2017. Her curiosity for figurative art became her fascination and she did her thesis with the title ‘Paint the Pait (belly)’. For which she painted nudes focusing on the torso of fat bulky bodies. To date she has participated in 5 group shows.
UNTITLED 1, oil on canvas, 42x36 inches
Our environment is changing and is worsening day by day. In this art retreat, I observed that we humans are playing a big role in spoiling it. During travel to scenic sites, tourists carry a lot of plastic materials (water/soda bottles, wrappers of chips and biscuits, shopping bags, etc.) that are neither biodegradable nor environment friendly. Also, these areas do not have desired cleaning systems. If throwing of plastic materials continues, we are likely to loose our magnificent natural environment and our future generations will only see these in pictures of the past. In my artwork, I have painted lake Saiful Mulook, replacing one of the mountains with plastic bottles. I want to sound a warning that if we keep throwing plastics, we might hide our mountains behind them and then these places will be lost – we need to act NOW! UNTITLED 2, oil on canvas, 24x20 inches
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Irfan Gul Dahri Born in 1979 in Shahdadpur a small town in Sindh, Irfan Gul Dahri holds a Masters in Visual Art from the National College of Arts. He was awarded with Charles Wallace Visiting Artist Fellowship 2013/14 to study in Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, London. He participated in Vasl residency, Karachi in 2007, was selected for 8thNeerja Modi International Art Camp 2012 in Jaipur, Climate Change and Art – A Practitioners’ Retreat, art residency in Swat in 2016 and Art for Climate Change residency in Naran in 2018. As a resident artist at Studio RM from 2008 to 2013, Irfan remained an active member in different community projects regarding student counseling and training through lectures, seminars, discussions and formal art classes. Irfan received the national ‘Arjumand Painting Award’ in 2017 as well as Chughtai Award and Principal’s Honors Award in 2003 for academic excellence in B. Design from National College of Arts where he has been teaching as permanent faculty since 2006. Dahri has been exhibiting his work in Pakistan, Dubai, Singapore, England, America and India. Since 2016, Irfan has also curated exhibitions independently and as a curator for an art gallery. He lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan.
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LET US EVOLVE 1, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x36 inches
We are humans and we evolve! We have become so smart that we fly without wings and move while sitting. We have learnt to make money while we are sleeping and turning every bit of this world into gold, for we are sure that we will find a way to eat, drink and breathe it one day, so don’t wake us up yet. We promise, we will be the saviours of this world once we ruin it. Just, let us evolve!
LET US EVOLVE 2, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x36 inches
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Kiran Saleem
Kiran Saleem graduated from College of Art & Design, GC University Faisalabad, in 2009 with a distinction in painting. She then acquired MA Honors in Visual Art from NCA Lahore in 2013. She is highly skilled in oil and acrylic painting and enjoys doing experimental works. Currently, her focus is to explain the importance of ordinary things that we often ignore and miss out. She is concerned with highlighting the real truth behind happenings in our daily life, the reality which
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we often ignore or fail to see. In brief, we could say that her work explores the notions of reality vs. perception. Kiran has received several awards including Best Young Artist Award by Arts Council Lahore (2013), First Prize in Arjumand Painting Award (2015). She has exhibited her works in solo and group shows in Pakistan, Dubai and Italy. Now she is teaching at NCA as visiting faculty and currently lives and works in Lahore.
UNTITLED 01, Oil on canvas, 36x30 inches
My work in this exhibition is about the changing dynamics of society, which is threatening our environment. Ever increasing population and housing societies, high rise buildings, factories and industrialization have altered the balance of nature. Acts like throwing polythene bags, blocking water and sewer drains, factory waste poisoning vegetation, unregulated deforestation are aggravating the conditions. Many areas, which are still beautiful and attractive for tourists are loaded with garbage, endangering surroundings. My work is a comment on this phenomenon, that how nature, with the passage of time and with the pressure of increasing ignorant population, is being invaded and injured – we need to prevent this with immediate collective actions.
UNTITLED 02 (DIPTYCH) , Oil on canvas, 10x7 inches each
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Muhammad Arshad Muhammad Arshad was born in a small town near Hafizabad in 1976 and currently works and lives in Lahore. He did his Masters in painting from College of Art & Design, University of the Punjab in 2003. Arshad’s work revolves around nature and he loves to spend his time visiting reserve areas like forest and capturing the spirit of the area. He mainly works on canvas with oil paints. Besides four solo exhibitions, Arshad has participated in many group shows in Pakistan and abroad and has received “Award of Excellence” from Artist Association of Punjab in 2013. He has also participated in art residencies including “Harmony & Diversity” organized by PNCA at Gilgit/ Hunza in 2004, in Tumair Village Islamabad in 2013 and in this art retreat in Naran. His also participated in the auction held by Christies for the World Food Program” in Dubai in 20 12.
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BATTA KUNDI, Oil on canvas, 24x30 inches
Exploring forests in autumn season is most inspiring to me – the flow of branches, tinted leaves, silent reflections and soft hazy light of winter make the depth more amazing. While capturing the spirit of the forest, long thick grass, bushes, shrubs and vines with flowers and leaves fascinates me. Voices of different species of birds break the silence of mysterious wilderness and make it full of life. However, I am anxious that we are losing their existence in their natural habitat and I am trying to make them a part of my work to bring attention towards the threatened biodiversity of our environment. BABUSAR TOP, Oil on canvas, 24x30 inches
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Muhammad Tariq Mohammad Tarik was born in 1981 in Jhawarian, a small village in Sargodha. Initially, he learned art from a street artist, who provoked and urged Tarik to paint and then inculcated the love for art in him. After graduation, Tarik learnt different designing skills including crockery and textile designing. He served as a graphic designer for a private company to create logo fonts in Muscat in 2013. He continued to groom himself by working for different clients in Lahore and regularly exposing himself to art by visiting art shows in prominent galleries and interacting and learning from senior artists. He acquired a professional diploma from Punjab University in 2017 in painting and then participated in “32nd Annual Art Exhibition” and in a group show “Rung e Bahar” in 2018 before joining this “Art for Climate Change” retreat in Naran.
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WHITE ROCKS, Oil on canvas, 24x30 inches
My work is a long journey of my passion for art. I have been inspired by many beautiful things and love birdsong, moonlit nights, sunshine and cool summer breeze. However, landscape painting was not my first destiny, and I have painted different things in different times. But, I always felt as if I needed to do something else, till I painted a landscape in plein air and in that painting I saw my destiny. Now the natural scenes with trees, lakes, ponds, rivers, water ripples in which there are dancing and moving reflections or shadows, crops, fruits orchards and soil are my subjects. I am spiritually attached to these and want our environment to face minimal damage from climate change – Let’s all act to save it. MORNING LIGHT, Oil on canvas, 24x26 inches
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S.M. Khayam S.M.Khayyam was born in 1990 in Quetta but currently lives and works in Lahore. Khayyam obtained a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art, with a major in traditional miniature painting, from the National College of Arts, Lahore. He works with various mediums in different genre of art including drawing, painting, sculpture, illustration, large-scale installations and calligraphy. He has been exhibiting his work from early teenage and his first solo show was held in 2008. Since then he has exhibited his artworks both nationally and internationally. He participated in ‘Climate Change and Art – A Practitioners Retreat’ in Swat in 2016 and was selected again for ‘Art for Climate Change’ residency in Naran in 2018. He has also participated in the Maktab Project in Lahore Biennale in 2018.
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UNTITLED 1, Oil on canvas, 22x31 inches
I like to capture the beauty in mundane objects. Different mediums inspire different ideas. Inspired by nature, the imagery creates itself in the mind and is translated into form by the medium. It is a beautiful world and I try to make this world visible for others. The work I am displaying specifically for this project is not only about the beautiful scenery of nature but also showcasing how we are ruining it with pollution and how pollution is becoming a part of nature – the nature that we must preserve in its original form to maintain ecology and biodiversity of our country. UNTITLED 2, Oil on canvas, 22x31 inches
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Sujjal Kayani Sujjal Kayani did her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from Karachi University in 2011. Her major subject was Contemporary Miniature. Sujjal has a thirst for exploring different ideas and mediums of art. Her work romanticizes around her life and the issues depicting the true nature of human behavior. Her thesis work was published in an acclaimed art magazine ‘Nukta Art’ in 2012. Over the last seven years, she has very successfully exhibited in well-established galleries in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore and also took part in an art project ‘W-11 Tram’ initiated by Australian artist Mick Douglas in 2011. She has received an award for painting, ‘Young People for Peaceful and Tolerance Society’ (2009) and was also awarded for a short film in a film festival, ‘Social Intervention International Conference’ in 2012. Participation in ‘Art for a Climate Change’ retreat in Naran was her first experience to be with other artists in a travelling art residency. She has also delivered art lectures on inspirations and ideas. Currently, Sujjal lives and works in Islamabad, Pakistan.
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TIME TO GIVE A DAM, print of photo paper, 24x36 inches
Having been in a denial for so long, a time comes when we should confront a question; what kind of a future do we want for ourselves? Of all the climate and environmental issues our country is currently facing, a key battle is with MASSIVE WATER CRISIS. The abusage of water is common practice, and we are taking what we are left with for granted. My artwork is a taunt on this subject. Using two different mediums, I have represented the distorted and torn down reflection of ourselves, which speak about the ugly reality of our mindset. The treatment of disability and emptiness in my work are representing our attitudes which have led to this alarming situation of water shortage. The attempt of showing a reality check in my art is quite evident and loudly present.
THE BEGGING 2, brass and iron, 8x5x4 Inches
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Artists, who worked from studio
Jamil Baloch Jamil Baloch was born in Noshki, Balochistan in 1972 and graduated from NCA, Lahore, in 1997, where he is currently a faculty member. Belonging from a rich cultural heritage, he incorporates the traditional models with modernity in his art. .Besides 14 solo shows to his credit in Pakistan, he has also held solo shows in Couadro Art Gallery, Dubai (2013) and Vermont Studio Center,USA. (2011). Jamil has also participated in several group shows in Pakistan and abroad in 14 countries including Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Srilanka, UAE, UK and USA. He has attended several art residencies like Art Omi (USA 2015),Vermont Studio Center (USA 2011), Theertha, (Srilanka,2006), George Keyt Foundation (Srilanka, 2004), Vasl International (Pakistan 2006). Jamil is recipient of Rangoonwala Award in National Exhibition of Visual Arts (2003), Honorable Prize in International Art Biennale Bangladesh (2008), Young Artists Exhibition, Lahore (1993),Balochistan Family Planning Competition (1994), Winsor Newton Competition (2000), National Exhibition Visual Arts, Lahore (2003), International Artist Camp in Sri Lanka (2004, and in an international art competition in Jeddah (2007).
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ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
HOPE-I, Acrylic on fiber glass, 24x24 inches
I have always tried to work with issues which concerns human beings, nature or visual aesthetics. As a responsible citizen of this world, this is my response to the concerns and distresses around us whether they are social, political, environmental, etc. I have never accepted those limitations that are often imposed with regard to inspirations or materials. Most of my work is executed in the form of sculptures, drawings, paintings, art videos and mixed media installations. The artworks in this exhibition highlight the HOPE through collective actions.
HOPE-II, Acrylic on fiber glass, 48x48 inches
ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
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Sana Arjumand
www.sanaarjumand.com
Sana Arjumand graduated from NCA, Lahore, in 2005. She is a contemporary visual artist who has extensively shown across the globe, besides Pakistan. Born in Karachi in 1982, she currently works and resides in Islamabad. Over the years, she has touched upon a wide range of subjects in her works, such as gender, politics, identity, and religion. Her current body of work revolves around mysticism and spirituality. Her work has been exhibited in Museums like Museo Diocesano in Milan (Italy), Columbia Museum of Art (USA) and Nake Art Museum (Korea). She has held solo exhibitions in Aicon Gallery (New York), Mary Place Gallery (Sydney), and in major cities of Pakistan. Sana has participated in group show at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and also in various international cities like London, New York, Hawaii, Amman, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Her work has been represented several times in Dubai Art Fair, Indian Art Fair, Abu Dhabi Art Fair, Art Basel Hong Kong, Flux Festival, London and University of Sunderland U.K. Blouin Artinfo titled Sana as one of the “Top Ten Rising Stars In Pakistan and India”. Other international publications that have reviewed her work include Time Magazine, Christian Science Monitor, Art Now, Asia Art Pacific, Huffington Post, Nat Brut, Indian Times, H.A.S magazine, Free Times and Art Quarterly (Christie’s publication) to name a few. Her work has also been discussed in several International blogs and forums. Local publications have also featured her work such as Friday Times, Blue Chip Magazine, Hello Magazine, Niche Magazine, Libas, Dawn, She Magazine,Express Tribune and The News. A book on Contemporary Pakistani Art, “Still The Eye Seeks” written by esteemed art critic Salima Hashmi featured one of Sanas political paintings. “Making Waves- Contemporary Art” book written by Silwat Ali has reviewed Sana’s international shows. In 2009 she participated in the “Art Omi” Residency in NewYork. In 2010 she was selected for R.M residency in Lahore. Her work has been collected by Francis J. Greenburger Collection (New York), Devi Art Foundation (New Delhi), Pondside Press (New York), Rangoonwala (Pakistan), DIL foundation (New York), Luciano Benetton Collection (Italy) among other collections.
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ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
OVERLAPPING DIMENSIONS Oil on canvas, 36x48 inches
The human heart desires peace and natures perfection without the interference of the ego. The way things are meant to be in their organic growth. This vision has been disturbed by manmade interferences. While soaking in the scene of a glorious mountain and a water body we often noticed a piece of plastic, a wrapper, a bottle a bag this or that. Consumerism has become the monster, consuming us and the nature. The problem is not manufacturing or consuming, but it is the internal endless greed that has no end. The magnitude of our problem cannot be imagined. From the fish in the sea to the birds in the air, all are being effected by the darkness of greed. It is indeed the internal that is being reflected externally. We are spreading darkness from inside ourselves. The painting “Over Lapping Dimensions� is a depiction of the internal and external. The internal darkness is effecting the perfect vision of the outside landscape. and indeed the madness of greed within is destructive enough to cause the environment to deteriorate.
DISTRUCTION THROUGH GREED Oil, embroidery and coins on wasli paper 33x35 inches
ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
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Sajjad Akram Muhammad Sajjad Akram is a Islamabad based visual artist, who acquired specialization in sculpture from Hunerkada, College of Visual and Performing Arts, in 2005 and then acquired M. Phil in Fine Arts from Punjab University in 2010 . He initially worked as a restorer at the National Art Gallery and also did commissioned works like sculpting dinosaurs for the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad. He began his teaching career from Multan College of Arts at BZU in 2007. He has also been a faculty member at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi (2010 to 2012), College of Art & Design, Punjab University (2012 to 2014), Comsat University, Islamabad (2014 to 2015) and NCA, Rawalpindi Campus from 2015 to date. Sajjad has also established an art studio in Rawalpindi where he curate exhibitions, hold artists talks, art workshops, art residencies and art classes. He has held a solo exhibition of his sculptures and have participated in many group shows all over the Pakistan. Now a days he is working on compilation of his poetry book, which is based on his life journey.
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ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
HUMAN SUFFERINGS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE Painted Metal Sheet and Fiberglass, 42x60x30 inches
My artwork focuses to emphasize value of paper, as its use overuse is leading to cutting of massive amount of trees. Paper is an essential item in our daily life: in education, in currency, in prescriptions, for various legal records such as housing, taxation, court records, etc. etc. Every day and everywhere we are living in paper world. That’s why I have used paper as a subject symbolizing its strength by using metal sheet as a medium. As an educationist, visual artist and writer, it’s my duty to create awareness about the value of paper and bring attention towards its overuse and abuse that is one of the causes of deforestation….. as the deforestation leads to climate change and disasters causing human suffering.
MUHAASBA Painted metal sheet, 42x60x48 inches
ART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2018
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Muhammad Asad Ghufran PhD Manager of the Art Retreat
I have been an active member of the East-West Center Association, Islamabad Chapter, since 2008. I have served as a member of the executive committee for 2010-2012 and currently serve as Finance Secretary. In this retreat, I provided assistance from EWCA-IC platform, served as Manager and planned the tour with the group leader. Apart from responding to the needs of the participants, I was also responsible for managing the finances of the retreat. Using my technical knowledge, I briefed the group with Dr. Faisel and Mr. Akif, for improving their environmental awareness and knowledge about climate change. Asad Ghufran earned his PhD in Environmental Sciences with research thesis “Ethnobotanical appraisal of wild plant resources in Northern Areas of Pakistan with cancer chemo-preventive screening of some selected species�. He worked on medicinal and economically important plant species in Hindukush-Himalayas, finding endemic natural medicinal treatments for human beings. Asad Ghufran has 10 years of on-field experience working with indigenous people, including livelihood of mountain communities, use of plants in Himalayan region and their conservation. Dr Ghufran also attended College of Pharmacy in Hawaii and was a member of a research Group under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Fox. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mr Syed Abu Ahmad Akif Member, Pakistan Administratice Service (retired) We are greatly indebted to Mr Syed Abu Ahmad Akif (Ex Secretary Ministry of Climate Change and Ex Chairman, PTDC Board of Directors). His committed efforts in finding and bringing together the sponsors and organizer made it possible to hold the art retreats and the exhibitions on climate change in 2016 and in 2018. Without his interest, facilitation and support these would not have taken palce.
Mr Jamal Shah Director General PNCA We are grateful to Mr. Jamal Shah, Director General PNCA, for providing the premises for this exhibition on gratis.
Catalogue Title and Layout Designed by Karim Muhammad